Dividend comparison
XLV vs IYH: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF and iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
XLV vs IYH: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. XLV is cheaper at 0.08% a year versus 0.37% for IYH. On $10,000 that is $29 a year less in fees.
- Income. XLV pays more income, yielding 1.42% over the last twelve months versus 1.06% for IYH. That is about $36 more a year on $10,000. XLV pays annual, IYH pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, XLV returned 46.9% versus 41.3% for IYH, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $14,689 in XLV and $14,132 in IYH.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -17.1% for XLV and -17.9% for IYH from peak to trough.
- Diversification. IYH holds 100 positions and XLV holds 61. The ten largest positions make up 60.3% of XLV and 58.8% of IYH.
- Overlap. 91% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 55 shared holdings. Owning both adds little diversification.
- Dividend growth. IYH grew its yearly payout 8.2% a year over the last 4 years, versus 7.2% for XLV.
- Size. XLV is the larger fund with $46.1 billion in assets, against $4.5 billion for IYH.
Bottom line: XLV fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and stronger 5-year returns. IYH fits better if you care most about broader diversification. With 91% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | XLV State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF | IYH iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.42% | 1.06% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $2.55 | $0.80 |
| Payout frequency | Annual | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.6422 on Sep 23, 2026 | $0.1908 on Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 7.2% over 4 yrs | 8.2% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $179.82 | $75.52 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | 4 years |
| Beta | 0.56 | 0.57 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -17.1% | -17.9% |
| Market cap | $45.90B | $4.33B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% | 0.37% |
| Assets under management | $46.07B | $4.48B |
| Number of holdings | 61 | 100 |
| Top 10 concentration | 60.3% | 58.8% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
XLV
$11.82/mo
$142 /yr at 1.42% yield
IYH
$8.81/mo
$106 /yr at 1.06% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. XLV pays annual; IYH pays quarterly.
| Year | XLV | IYH |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.4766 | $0.7731 |
| 2024 | $2.2943 | $0.7261 |
| 2023 | $2.1688 | $0.6760 |
| 2022 | $1.9925 | $0.6238 |
| 2021 | $1.8729 | $0.5638 |
Strategy: Sector and thematic
Funds that hold a single industry or theme, such as technology, semiconductors, healthcare or energy. Funds covering the same sector can still differ in concentration rules: some cap the largest positions while others let the biggest companies take a quarter of the fund. Sector funds are usually used to tilt a portfolio rather than as its core.
A single sector can fall far further than the broad market and stay down for years, and the largest names often dominate the fund.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $14,689 in XLV and $14,132 in IYH.
| Period | XLV | IYH |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 6.79% | 6.11% |
| 3 months | 11.63% | 13.04% |
| Year to date | 16.16% | 16.99% |
| 1 year | 24.19% | 25.24% |
| 3 years | 45.19% | 45.65% |
| 5 years | 46.89% | 41.32% |
- XLV
- IYH
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
- XLV
- IYH
XLV vs IYH holdings overlap
91% overlap by weight, with 55 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | XLV weight | IYH weight |
|---|---|---|
| LLYELI LILLY + CO | 15.57% | 15.13% |
| JNJJOHNSON + JOHNSON | 9.60% | 9.35% |
| ABBVABBVIE INC | 7.84% | 7.65% |
| UNHUNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC | 5.73% | 5.62% |
| MRKMERCK + CO. INC. | 5.56% | 5.43% |
| TMOTHERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC | 3.94% | 3.86% |
| AMGNAMGEN INC | 3.60% | 3.51% |
| GILDGILEAD SCIENCES INC | 2.98% | 2.91% |
| ABTABBOTT LABORATORIES | 2.82% | 2.76% |
| PFEPFIZER INC | 2.63% | 2.56% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
XLV61 holdings total
Quick verdict
XLV fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and stronger 5-year returns. IYH fits better if you care most about broader diversification. With 91% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how XLV vs IYH fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is XLV or IYH better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. XLV currently yields 1.42% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while IYH yields 1.06%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between XLV and IYH?
State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, XLV or IYH?
XLV has the lower expense ratio. XLV charges 0.08% a year and IYH charges 0.37%, a difference of $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, XLV or IYH?
Over the last 5 years, XLV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: XLV returned 46.9% and IYH returned 41.3%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, XLV or IYH?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, IYH has been riskier: XLV fell as much as 17.1% and IYH as much as 17.9%. Their betas are 0.56 and 0.57.
How much do XLV and IYH overlap?
About 91% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 55 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are LLY, JNJ, ABBV. Holding both adds little diversification.
How often do XLV and IYH pay dividends?
XLV pays annual and IYH pays quarterly.
How much income does $10,000 in XLV vs IYH generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in XLV would generate roughly $11.82 per month ($142 annually). The same amount in IYH would produce about $8.81 per month ($106 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both XLV and IYH?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare XLV vs IYH with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how XLV and IYH fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.
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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.